The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has described the illegal dissolution and takeover of local government administration by state governors as a treasonable offence.
Speaking on Wednesday at an event organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja, Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Civil Appeals, Tijani Gazali, condemned governors who disregard Supreme Court rulings and constitutional provisions protecting local government autonomy.
Despite legal safeguards, some governors and state assemblies continue to dissolve elected local councils unlawfully. The AGF also criticised state Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice for failing to provide proper legal guidance to their governors.
He called for stringent penalties against any governor who engages in such unconstitutional actions.
Some state governors have clashed with local government chairpersons in recent months.
In December, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended all 18 local government chairpersons and their deputies for two months, allowing legislative leaders to assume control.
The decision followed a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo, citing the refusal of council chairpersons to submit financial records to the state government.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation faulted the Edo Assembly’s move, insisting that only local government legislative arms have the authority to remove or suspend council chairpersons.
Fagbemi emphasised that under the current legal framework, governors cannot arbitrarily dismiss local government officials without following due legal process.